Sock saver



Dec. 1942- D. G. 'LOUCH 2,304,261

SOCK SAVER Filed Sept. 22, 1939 I'IELi INVENTEIR 05. L-EILIBH TTIJRNEY s,

' Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITE SOCK SAVER Delbert George Louch, St. Marys, Ontario, Canada Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,111.

7' Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in sock savers, and the object of the invention is to devise a protector for the heel of the human foot as well as the heel of the sock or hose, which will prevent the hosiery becoming torn or worn from the slip motion of the foot in the shoe or the like.

It is a common practice to have the sock saver held in position by an elastic band passing over the ankle which is objectionable as the sides must be different to suit different ankles. My sock saver is particularly applicable where heavy shoes are worn with two pairs of socks. 7

My invention is designed to provide an article of this class which will not slip, twist, or shift on the foot. It is designed to be so finished that it will be smooth and not liable to excoriate the sock or heel.

My invention consists of a sock saver made up from one piece of material such as leather so formed as to present a smooth surface at the inside as well as th outside, so as to fit, not only the heel, but the shoe snugly and thereby cause no abrasion and an adjustable strap for securing the saver securely in position, the parts being arranged and formed in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 represents a blank preferably made of light leather out of which my sock saver is formed up.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view in a reversed position as formed up.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the saver in the reversed position.

Fig. 4 is a cross section in the reversed position.

Fig. 5 represents an alternative form of blank.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the blank shown in Fig. 5, as formed up.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross section of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the form shown in Fig. 2, with the adjustable means of securing the saver to the ankle.

Figs. 10 and 11 are details of the adjustable fastener for securing the saver to the ankle.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, I is the blank made of leather or other suitable material which has a central portion l' which is bent in rounded shape substantially on the lines 2, 2 and is provided with laterally and obliquely extending portions 3, 3 at the upper edge, is curved at the bottom edge, and has slits 4 cut from the bottom edge inwardly to form a flap 5. When the sides are bent up in rounded form as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the portion 5 is skived and cemented so as to fit snugly and be secured to the central portion of the saver as indicated and present a smooth surface both inside and outside and thus-be comfortable on the foot, the portion 2", 2 being previously overlapped and cemented together.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 the portion 5 has side wings 5 which are secured by cement or other suitable adhesive to the outside of the sock saver. It makes a stronger form. The flap 5 may be secured at the inside or outside of the bottom and is skived and cemented thereto.

In Fig. 9 which is an enlarged view of the form shown in Fig. 2.. In this form the straps iv are secured by eyelets 8 on each side of the central opening. The straps are provided with an adjustable bar I!) having a pintle II which is designed to engage with the socket eyelet 8. By adjusting the bar Ill on each side it will be readily seen any ankle may be snugly fitted.

I do not show or describe means of ventilating my saver, although it will be understood that I may utilize suitably formed perforations in the sole portion of the body. 7

It will be seen from this description that my sock saver is very simple, may be made from one piece of material without sewing of any kind, is readily adjustable, is capable of being reversed in use and provides a reinforcement where the wear is the greatest, is durable and may be worn on any type of footwear.

Although I have shown two forms of my sock saver it will be understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and yet be within the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A sock saver comprising a blank piece of pliable material having one side edge slit to form a central tab and a pair of flaps on each side of the tab the width of said tab and the length of said flaps substantially coinciding, a tongue projecting substantially from the opposite side at each end of the blank, said blank being formed up in U-shaped cross section to provide a heel pocket with said flaps overlapping one another to form a double thickness of material and said tab overlying the overlapped flaps exteriorly of the pocket, said flaps and tab being permanently secured together to form with the tabs a triple thickness of material along one wall of the pocket terminating directly at its edges in a single ply of material, said tongues being disposed forwardly and upwardly in relation to the pocket and embracing the ankle of the wearer.

2. A sock saver as claimed in claim 1 in which straps are secured to the tongues designed to cross one upon the other around the ankle of the wearer, said blank being split to permit a strap to pass therethrough, said straps having adjustable fastening means thereon, said blank having anchoring means for securing the adjustable fastening.

3. A sock saver comprising a blank piece of pliable material having one side edge slit to form a central tab and a pair of flaps extending on each side of the tab, said blank being formed up in U-shaped cross section to form a heel pocket having a base and back substantially at right angles to one another and side walls extending between said base and back; said flaps overlapping one another to form a double thickness of material and said tab overlying the overlapped flaps exteriorly of the pocket and forming a continuous exterior surface extending from the base to the back, said tab having side wings projecting laterally therefrom and extending around the heel pocket beyond the point of lapping of the flaps, said tab and flaps being permanently secured together,

4. A sock saver comprising a blank piece of pliable material having one side edge slit to form a central tab and a pair of flaps extending on each side of the tab, said blank being formed up in U-shaped cross section to form a heel pocket with said flaps overlapping one another to form a double thickness of material andsaid tab overlying the overlapped flaps exteriorly of the pocket, strap members forwardly projecting from the heel pocket designed to cross one upon the other around the ankle of the wearer, said blank being slit for the passage of a strap therethrough to the exterior of the heel pocket, adjustable fastening means on the straps and anchoring means exteriorly of the heel portion for connecting with the fastening means of the straps.

5. A sock saver comprising a blank piece of pliable material having one side edge slit to form a central tab and a pair of flaps on each side of the tab, the width of the tab and length of the flaps substantially coinciding, said blank being formed up in U-shaped cross section to provide a heel pocket having a base, a back substantially at right angles thereto and intervening side walls, said flaps overlapping one another, and said tab overlying the overlapped flaps exteriorly of the pocket to form therewith a triple thickness of material, wherein the exterior surface of the pocket is continuous from the base to the back,

the innermost of the overlapped flaps forming a.

stantially at right angles thereto and interven ing side walls, said flaps overlapping one another and said tab overlying the overlapped flaps ex-' teriorly of the pocket to form a triple ply back for the pocket with a single ply base, whereinthe exterior surface of the pocket is continuousfrom the base to the back, the innermost of the overlapped flaps forming a continuous inner back wall for the pocket in the path of the heel of the wearer having its lowermost edge terminating substantially in the plane of the base of the" pocket and its side edge disposed to one side of the pocket and out of the normal path of the heel of the wearer, said flaps and tab being secured together to retain the material in general U-shaped formation. g

7. A sock saver as claimed in claim 6 in which the central tab is formed with side wings at its outer end designed to extend around the side walls from the rear wall of the pocket adjacent the top of the latter to fit the upper portion of the pocket around the narrower heel portion of the wearer. DELBERT GEORGE LOUCH. 

